Photos: Seven facts to know about the first Egyptian-made Gowind-class frigate
The Egyptian Navy’s Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General, Ahmed Khaled Saeed on Monday attended a ceremony celebrating the arrival of the first Egyptian made Gowind-class frigate to join the Egyptian Navy fleet. The Navy fleet is witnessing a huge technological breakthrough in armament systems and combat efficiency, in line with the latest international systems. Here are seven facts about the Egyptian navy’s latest addition:Has been called the “Frigate Port Said.”Built at the Alexandria Shipyard Company. The working hours in its construction hit 650,000 hours, in addition to work hours needed to support production estimated at about 110,000 hours. The frigate has a high-capacity multiple electronic and combat monitoring system allowing it to monitor, track and engage with air, surface and subsurface targets.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 14:03 UTC
Egypt’s Dina el-Sherbiny starts filming Ramadan series “Qasr al-Nile”
Egyptian actress Dina el-Sherbiny began filming the first scenes of her upcoming TV series “Qasr al-Nile”, scheduled to be shown during Ramadan 2021. Egypt’s Youm7 reported that the series, directed by Khaled Marai, stars Sherbiny as an aristocratic girl in the 1960s. Actors Riham Abdel Ghafour, Salah Abdallah, Sabri Fawaz, Mahmoud al-Bezawi, Ahmed Khaled Saleh, Narden Fag, Ahmed Magdy, Amro al-Saed, Nabil Essa, and Mariam al-Khesht will play alongside Sherbiny in the series. Sherbiny has appeared in over 30 TV shows and movies, including “Thanya Wahda” starring Mostafa Khater, and directed by Akram Farid, the 2016 Ramadan series “Grand Hotel”, and 2017’s Ramadan series “Asham Ebles”. More recently, she was featured in the Ramadan 2020 series “Lebet al-Nessian”, starring Mahmoud Qabil, Enji al-Mokadm, and Ragaa el-Gedawy and the movie “March 30th” starring Ahmed el-Fishawy and Nilly Karim.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 13:39 UTC
Smoking increases the risk of 5 respiratory diseases, warns Egypt’s Health Ministry
Egypt’s Health and Population Ministry issued a warning on Monday that smoking increases the risk of respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, the common cold, pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Studies also indicate that smoking in women and breast cancer are linked, the ministry added, with smoking significantly increasing the risk of developing several types of cancer. Even non-smokers are unsafe, with the ministry stating that the risk of lung cancer and coronary heart disease can increase just by inhaling smoke. The ministry added that secondhand smoke causes 100,000 premature deaths annually from non-smokers, including men, women and children, explaining that chemicals within tobacco smoke contains 40 substances that cause cancer. In an interview with Ahmed Mousa on his TV show “Ala Masaolity” (On My Responsibility), Jabbour explained that smoking can lead to increased risk of chronic diseases.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 12:56 UTC
Israel announces new settlements, risking Biden’s anger
Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 war, territories the Palestinians want for their future state. The Palestinians view settlements as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace, a position with wide international support. The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry condemned the latest announcement, accusing Israel of “racing against time” to build settlements before President Donald Trump leaves office. Trump’s administration provided unprecedented support to Israel, including by abandoning a decades-old US policy of opposing settlements. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, who hopes to unseat Netanyahu in March, called the settlement announcement an “irresponsible step” that would spark a “battle” with the new US administration.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 12:56 UTC
Ethiopia begins constructing new dam in northern Amhara region
Ethiopia broke ground on Saturday and began building a new dam worth US$125 million in North Shewa, Amhara Region. According to Amhara Mass Media Agency, the dam, named Ajima-Chacha, will be 45.5 meters tall, 371 meters long, and capable of storing 55 million cubic meters of water. Upon completion, 7,000 hectares of land will be able to be developed, benefitting more than 28,000 families in the region. The Chinese Civil Engineering Corporation (CCEC), in cooperation with the Water and Construction Works Corporation of the Amhara Region, is building the dam. Ethiopia also recently inaugurated its Italian-built €2.5 billion euro Koysha hydroelectric power project in Koysha, located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) of the country.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 12:11 UTC
Egypt's 1st locally-built Gowind 2500 stealth corvette delivered
"Port Said" was launched in September 2018 to be the second Gowind corvette owned by Egypt as the first – dubbed Al Fateh - was produced in France and delivered a year earlier. The third dubbed Al Moez and the fourth dubbed Luxor were launched in May 2019 and May 2020, respectively. The spokesperson of the Egyptian Armed Forces announced on December 31 that Egypt's first FREMM Bergamini frigate arrived at Alexandria's naval base. The frigate – dubbed Al Galala - is one of two Egypt purchased from the Italian company Fincantieri, and can sail for 6,000 sea miles. The ceremony was attended by a number of Armed Forces' commanders, former commanders of the Naval Force, and students at the Egyptian Naval Academy.
Source:Egypt Today
January 11, 2021 12:00 UTC
Egypt reveals reason behind yet another failure of GERD talks
Egypt on Sunday explained that the recent sessions of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations have failed once again due to differences on how to resume talks and of the procedural aspects related to managing the negotiation process. “The African Union experts are not specialists in the technical and engineering fields related to water resources management and dam operating,” the statement said. Khartoum has called for a change in the negotiation methodology, granting the African Union experts a greater role to bring the views of the three countries closer. The construction of the dam, which began in 2011, is considered to be one of Egypt’s most serious water issues. Sudan is somewhat caught in the middle of the conflicting interests of Egypt and Ethiopia.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 10:41 UTC
Washington mayor asks for increased security around Biden’s inauguration
(Reuters) – Washington’s mayor has asked for increased security around the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden after last week’s storming of the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump. Describing last week’s assault as an “unprecedented terrorist attack”, Mayor Muriel Bowser said that Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20 will require a “different approach” compared to past inaugurations. In her letter, Bowser said the District of Columbia was submitting a request for a “pre-disaster declaration” to allow for federal assistance. Washington remains on high alert ahead of Biden’s inauguration. Trump said last week he would not attend Biden’s inauguration.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 10:30 UTC
Gilead’s Hep C drug Sovaldi shows promise against coronavirus
A member of Egypt’s Supreme Committee for Viruses at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said on Sunday that the antiviral Sovaldi drug, used to treat Hepatitis C, has shown promising results in the treatment of COVID-19. In early 2020, Egypt’s EvaPharma partnered with America drug giant Gilead to supply the country with Sovaldi at a 99 percent discount, both for coronavirus treatment and Hep C treatment, as the country has the highest number of Hep C infections in the world. Patients with cirrhosis (liver failure) can safely take the drug, which sets it apart from other antivirals. While Sovaldi is on the market now for Hep C treatment, the drug has yet to be approved for coronavirus treatment. Egypt’s Health Ministry confirmed 993 new coronavirus cases and 55 deaths on Sunday.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 09:45 UTC
Egypt to host 27th Men’s Handball World Championship’s matches without fans
The higher committee of the 27th Men’s Handball World Championship on Sunday has ruled to host the championship’s matches without any fan attendance due to the coronavirus outbreak. Egypt will host the championship on January 13-31 with participation of 32 teams for the first time, instead of 24 teams. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly alongside Minster of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy and the President of the International Handball Federation Hassan Mostafa inspected all final preparations at the Cairo International Stadium to host championship. Sobhy said that the main hall will host the matches of the Egyptian national team within the tournament at a capacity of 16,200 fans. The press conference hall and press center have been renovated, with faster internet services to help journalists and media professionals covering the matches.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 09:22 UTC
Solskjaer hopes to have Pogba, Lindelof and Shaw back for Liverpool game
(Reuters) - Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to have midfielder Paul Pogba and defenders Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw back from injury for their Premier League game against Liverpool on Sunday. The trio missed the FA Cup third-round win over Watford at the weekend and are doubtful for Tuesday’s league game at Burnley. Asked in a news conference if the three players can be ready for Burnley and Liverpool, Solskjaer said: “I hope so, I hope all of them for Liverpool, definitely. “Every game in the Premier League is a challenge, is a test. Burnley is one test, Liverpool is another, then you go to Fulham (Jan. 20), which is a different test again.
Source:Egypt Today
January 11, 2021 09:00 UTC
China: WHO experts arriving Thursday for virus origins probe
BEIJING (AP) — Experts from the World Health Organization are due to arrive in China this week for a long-anticipated investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, the government said Monday. The AP investigation found that China’s government is handing out hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to scientists researching the virus’ origins in southern China. Australia and other countries have called for an investigation into the origins of the virus, prompting angry responses from Beijing. Image: FILE- In this Jan. 30, 2020, file photo, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), talks to the media at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. China said Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, that a group of experts from the World Health Organization are due to arrive this week for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 09:00 UTC
Aid group: US terrorism designation for Yemen rebels a blow
In his announcement late Sunday, Pompeo pledged that US measures would help absorb the impact on aid groups and allow humanitarian assistance to continue to flow to the Arab world’s poorest country. “Yemen’s faltering economy will be dealt a further devastating blow,” said Mohamed Abdi, the group’s director for Yemen. “The United States recognizes concerns that these designations will have an impact on the humanitarian situation in Yemen,” Pompeo said in a statement. The conflict started in 2014 when the Houthis overran the north and the capital, Sanaa. The following year, the Saudi-led coalition intervened to wage war on the Houthis and to restore President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s government to power.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 08:15 UTC
Bahrain says it will open airspace to Qatar from Monday
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have already announced reopening air, land and sea entry points to Qatar. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister had said at the summit that the four states agreed to restore all ties with Qatar which were severed over accusations that Doha supports terrorism. Qatar denies this and says the embargo aimed to curb its sovereignty. In December, Qatar’s interior ministry said its coastguard stopped a Bahraini cruiser catching fish in Qatari territorial waters and arrested three people. The previous month, Bahrain’s interior ministry accused Qatari coastguard vessels of violating regional and international agreements after they stopped two Bahraini boats inside Qatari waters.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 08:15 UTC
The Latest: South Korea to vaccine its 52M people for free
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s president says it’ll offer COVID-19 vaccinations to all its people free of charge in phases. Earlier Monday, South Korea reported 451 new virus cases, the first time for its daily tally to come below 500 in 41 days. South Africa accounts for more than 30% of the continent’s total with more than 1.2 million reported cases, including 32,824 deaths. The high proportion of cases in South Africa could be because the country carries out more tests than many other African countries. South Africa is battling a resurgence of the disease, driven by a variant of the virus that is more contagious and spreading quickly.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 11, 2021 07:30 UTC